Shaft-tug.



Patented May 6, I902.

No. 699,44l.

H. A. BIERLEYY.

SHAFT TUG.

(Application filed July 11, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. BIERLEY, OF PORTSMOUTH, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM C. SAFFORD, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

SHAFTQ-T'UG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 699,441, dated. May 6, 1902.

Application filed July 11, 1900. Serial No. 23,228. (No model.)-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, HENRY A. BIERLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portsmouth, in the county of Scioto and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VehicleShaft Tugs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Heretofore the tug or loop strap of harness has been commonly simply looped around the shaft and fastened or buckled to the bellyband without the provision of any means for insuring the tightness of the loop or the permanence of its location on the shaft.

The object of my present invention, therefore, is to provide improved means for accomplishing these results; and the invention consists in the parts and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, showing an embodiment of the invention, Figure l is an edge view of the parts, the shaft being in section. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the tugstrap link. Fig. 3 is a side View of that portion of the shaft where the tug 'or loop is attached, and Fig. 4 is a view of the under side of the same'.

Like characters of reference in the several views designate corresponding parts.

The tug or loop strap link comprises a frame having side bars 1 and extensions 1 thereof at an angle thereto. Between the side bars are cross-bars 2, 2, and 2 The upper cross bar 2 is enlarged at its middle and formed with an eye through which a rivet can be passed to secure the tug or loop strap link to the strap on the saddle. The cross-bar 2 has attached to it the tug or loop strap 3, that is to be looped around the shaft. The crossbar 2 at the lower end of the link has an upward extension or tongue that guides the end of the tug-strap through the opening between the bars 2 and 2". When the loop To prevent any possible longitudinal slip ping of the tug-strap upon the shaft, I secure upon the under side of the latter a strip 4, formed with one or more teats 4. The tugstrap can be looped about the shaft between two of these teats, or the strap can be made with a hole 3 to fit over one, or if there be more than one over any of them to secure the strap from displacement in either direction. The provision of a series of these teats 3 permits a proper location of the tug-strap whether the horse be large or small.

It may be added that the provision of the eye in the cross-bar 2 and a rivet for fastening the tug-strap link to the strap on the saddle prevents undue movement sidewise of the link.

With my invention the breeching and back strap can be dispensed with.

I/Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a harness and shaft connector, the combination with a link adapted to be suspended by one end from the harness-saddle and provided at its other end with an integral, ofiset strap-retaining loop having a strap-protecting fiange,'of a suitable strap attached to the lower end of the link and adapted to encircle a shaft and to have its free end confined in the said strap-retaining loop and to be connected to the girth to secure the shaft to the harness.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY A. BIERLEY.

Witnesses:

M. U. RIoKn'r'rs, GEORGE M. FINOKEL. 

